Revised October 20, 2005
October 03, 2005
NOTICE:
THIS FIELD NOTICE IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS AND DOES NOT IMPLY ANY KIND OF GUARANTEE OR WARRANTY, INCLUDING THE WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY. YOUR USE OF THE INFORMATION ON THE FIELD NOTICE OR MATERIALS LINKED FROM THE FIELD NOTICE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. CISCO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR UPDATE THIS FIELD NOTICE AT ANY TIME.
Products Affected
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All products
Problem Description
Some Catalyst 6000 Immersion Silver Printed Circuit Board (PCB) surface finish, which is not covered by solder, may become discolored over time. This discoloration is purely cosmetic in nature and has no impact on product performance or product functionality.
Background
Immersion Silver is one of several surface finishes commonly used on PCBs in both the electronic and automotive industries. Discoloration of Catalyst 6000 Immersion Silver surfaced PCBs commonly occurs for a couple of reasons:
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If Immersion Silver surfaced PCBs come into contact with finger oil residue from bare hands.
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If Immersion Silver surfaced PCBs are exposed to excessive levels of humidity.
Cisco takes every precaution to ensure that Catalyst 6000 products containing Immersion Silver finish are free from discoloration when they are shipped from the factories.
Problem Symptoms
Dark smudges and areas of discoloration appear on the silver surfaces of a Catalyst 6000 PCB. The edge rails of a PCB are the most common locations for discoloration to occur.
Workaround/Solution
Customers are encouraged not to handle Immersion Silver PCBs by the edge rails. No other workaround is required.
For More Information
If you require further assistance, or if you have any further questions regarding this field notice, please contact the Cisco Systems Technical Assistance Center (TAC) by one of the following methods:
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